How to S-Off (Unlock Bootloader) and Root Verizon HTC One

Rooting a normal Android device is pretty easy as all it takes is a little effort and demands adventurous spirit. However, when it comes to rooting and installing a custom recovery on an Android smartphone from Verizon, things turn tougher. Verizon is considered to be the most ruthless carrier because its devices come with locked bootloaders and are not easy to root. When the Verizon HTC One was released with an unlockable bootloader, it was too pleasant a news to believe.

The HTC Dev bootloader unlock method worked perfectly for some time. Most of us took it as a mistake on Verizon’s part and we were not surprised even a bit when the carrier rolled an OTA update to the phone and made its bootloader unlockable and the phone itself, unrootable. Android is a world of possibilities among impossibilities and our great developer community has proved it innumerable times.

If you have the HTC One from Verizon and are looking for some workaround to achieve S-Off and root access on your phone, you finally got a reason to rejoice. Beaups and Fuses from XDA have released a very convenient solution that not only performs S-Off on your Verizon HTC One, but also roots it in a matter of a few mouse clicks. The developer duo’s Rumrunner S-Off tool is a one-click utility that pushes unlocked bootloader and Super SU to your HTC One using straight forward steps that does not require any special skill on the part of the user. Rumrunner S-Off exploit is available for both, Windows and Linux.

Warning:

Performing S-Off on your HTC One and rooting it will void its warranty. Also, the procedure described below, though tested, might prove risky. If you decide to follow it, make sure you are not drunk and, in any case, do not blame the developers or us. It’s your phone and your decision!

Requirements:

Verizon HTC One with 100% stock firmware. That is to say, you phone must not have a custom or insecure kernel installed on it.

Well-versed in English literature and active in politics, Rakesh is a teacher by profession and geek by heart with ardent passion for all-things-tech. He has been a theme-maker, modder, and has contributed to some custom ROMs. He enjoys learning, discovering, growing and sharing the newest and latest trends in the world of Android.
Current Devices: LG G3, Nexus 5, Galaxy Note 3 and HTC One M8.

Am I correct in assuming that this method will root my phone without the need for a different recovery? I actually like Sense, so I’d like to keep that if possible.

Matthew Goebel

Drivers good, but will uninstall and manually reinstall just to make sure. Will post back tomorrow if that does/does not work

http://www.droidviews.com/ Rakesh

“waiting for device” points to issues related to USB drivers. Go to Windows device manager and check whether it shows a yellow triangle at the device name.

Matthew Goebel

I followed the posted steps above and im still having issues, a ran rumrunner and get past test 2, the program then has a loading bar and reboots the phone. then i get a waiting for ADB, then waiting for device, this posts twice and a get a following message “really dumb issues you have. you suck..” “ERROR: run rumrunner again..”

I ran rumrunner, it says it was completed and in the fastboot screen says “Unlocked” at the top and s-off. The article claims this will also root my phone, but when I check, my phone isn’t rooted. I’m curious if I’m missing something in the process, or it just turns your phone to s-off?

http://www.droidviews.com/ Rakesh

You might be making some mistake.

el_machin

is giving me this error

ERROR: looks like devices is not rooted and lacks an unsecure kernel. su or fu

In my knowledge, the tool does not work properly on 64 bit OS. Trying with a 32 bit system might solve the issue.

Dean

I GOT IT!!! You have to add a step for brand new phone to select HTC Sync Always! When they plug it in to USB the first time

Dean

I did that . I have developer access. When I go to download the rooting program. theres 3 versions. could i be download the wrong one? it just seems like a version difference… I have 64 bit. and my drivers are such… but what about rumrunner, that seems to be my issue.

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

Not 5 but 7 tabs on build number to enable USB Debugging.

Dean

I’m actually trying to root. I just got it a few days ago. I did the 5 taps and unchecked fastboot etc… Dunno what I’m missing.

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

What actually are your trying to do- rooting the devices or installing the custom recovery?

Dean

I will try this. I tried from fastboot screen(volume down button .. then fastboot etc.) and I still got to the end and it told me to reread it and try again.. GOO Manager says it is for rooted users only…

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

Yes.

There is a pretty easier method too. Install Goo Manager app from the market and from the app option select install open recovery script. TWRP should be installed on your device. I have not tested but that usually works. Try and let me know.

Dean

Do I have to be on the fastboot screen when I plug the phone in to USB? I haven’t been able to get the program to do anything to my phone that i can see..

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

Yes, either decrypt it or do a factory reset first.

weedenbc

I encrypted my disk when I originally setup my HTC One. That means I have to do a factory reset before attempting this, correct?

excellent thanks for the reply. just in case something does go wrong, is there any pre-root backup methods you would suggest?

Alexander Geci

Hello! I have a Macbook pro Retina 13 inch laptop running windows, and the program told me that the usb connection failed, and I learned that I have USB 3.0 ports but im supposed to use 2.0. Is there a way to convert them to 2.0 or something?

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

Make sure your phone is not rooted, or using a custom kernel and has official Sense ROM installed on it. Just check the instruction and try again. Beaups’ tool works fine.

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

Yes, you are right. Unlocking the bootloader using HTC Dev site resets the device but this methods achieve S-Off that is similar to bootloader unlock. Performing the steps will not wipe the device.

Kevin Jensen

thanks for posting this

sorry if this is a silly question, it’s been a long time since i’ve done this personally.
will this erase all of my data/apps/settings? i assume it will while unlocking the bootloader. if so, is there any way to to a complete backup of my phone to where i’m left with essentially my current phone with root access? thanks guys, great work.

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

Nice!

nick

Hi guys. First off just want to thank all the devs who helped make this application. The problem I am having is when I open Soju and run the application I get all the way down to when it says “pouring” and it goes for about 30 seconds and then reboots my phone. It then says pouring (2) and it does it all over again. I have done this all the way until pouring (7) then I just stopped the application. Any one know if this is supposed to happen or if they are any fixes?

Andy

Figured it out…I initially used USB 3.0 but you should use USB 2.0

Andy

So after the very first boot, where it boots into bootloader, it just sits there on #1 and says Waiting for fastboot and goes up to 120 seconds and then gives me an error message….anybody know what I need to do here?

beaups

thanks

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

Did that!

beaups

The files you are linking to are no longer authorized for use, and will not work. Please do not hot link our files. You can simply point users to the xda thread with proper files and documentation.

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

No, you need not unlock the bootloader. It takes about 5 minutes at most.

http://droidviews.com/ Rakesh

Yes, it works if you have Verizon One and you follow things carefully. Have you installed the drivers?

Fdroid

does this work ??? i’ve been stuck on the second fastboot screen for a while now..